Cigarette package



Feb. 247, 1934. H R, BETHKE y 1,949,139

CIGARETTE PACKAGE Filed Maron 6, 193s l @E Tlf/rE.

Patented Feb. 27, 1934 PATENr ori-Ica CIGARETT PAcKAGE Harvey n, Bethke, Milwaukee, Win.

Application March 6, 1933. Serial No. 659,807

3 Claims.

This invention pertains to cigarette packages, and has :for one of its primary objects the pro'- vision of novel means wherein the cigarettes will be kept in a fresh condition until used, and wherein the cigarettes will be held against being crushed and disintegration incident to the cari-y.Y ing thereof in the pocket. A,

In cigarette packages of twenty, as soon isf" the package is open, all of the cigarettes are subjected to atmospheric conditions, and all of the cigarettes soon dry out; further, as the cigarettes areused, an open space is left in the package, allowing movement of the cigarettes in the package. This causes the cigarettes to lose their shape, and some of the tobacco invariably falls from the cigarettes, Iwhich eventually finds its way into the pockets of the smoker.

It is therefore a salient object of my invention to provide a cigarette package, in which the outer paper container receives individual packages of ten' cigarettes each, whereby the individual twin packages can be opened'one at a time, thereby only subjecting a certain part of the cigarettes to the atmosphere, the unopened individual package holding its cigarettes against movement and in substantially moisture-tight condition. Y

Another important object of my invention is the provision of means whereby the tax stamp acts as means for holding the individual packages in the paper container against movement, and whereby the entire package will have the same appearance/as the ordinary types of packages of cigarettes now on the market.

A further object of my invention is the provision oi novel means whereby the wrappers for 'the individual packages of cigarettes can be attached to the outside paper container, incident to the forming of a cigarette package, whereby the individual packages of cigarettes will be held rmly in the paper container.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means for packing the cigarettes in the individual packages, whereby the individual packages will form mating sections for the complete cigarette package, and form clearcut, rm corners on the. complete cigarette package.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means whereby the individual packages of cigarettes can be conveniently opened on each side of the tax stamp, the tax stamp forming a guide for the tearing of said individual packages.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved cigarette package of the above character, which will be durable and ef- Iiclent in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and vother objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, ar-

rangement, and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed. and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan vilew of one form of my improved cigarette package.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a slightly modifled form of my cigarette package, showing one of the individual packages open to permit the use of the cigarettes therein.A

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the improved cigarette package, showing parts of the outer paper container broken away and in section, with one of the individual packages in a partially raised position to more clearly illustrate the arrangement of the individual packages of ten cigarettes each in the paper container.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view in plan, illustrating the novel 'means of disposing the cigarettes in the package.

Figure 5 is a detail fragmentary perspective view, illustrating the bottom of the paper container, and showing the means of connecting the individual cigarette package therewith.l

Figure 6 is 'a detail perspective view of one of the cigarette packages. v

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates the complete package of cigarettes, which comprises the outer paper container 1 0, which can be of the usual 'character. Y

As shown, this outer paper container 10 ncludes front and rear walls 11 and 12, and the connecting side walls 13. The bottom wall 14 of the container is formed by folding the front and rear walls'll and 12, and sidewalls 13, inwardly to form flaps 15. This leaves the upper end of the paper container open, and the paper container normally receives a wrapped package containing twenty cigarettes.

In accordance with my invention, I provide two individual cigarette packages, indicated respectively by the reference characters 16 and 17.

Each of these individual packages 16 and 17 rey cated by the reference character 18, are enclosed within a folded wrapper 19. Ihis wrapper 19 ,can be of any desired material, such as paper and tin foil, or Cellophane. In the formation of the individual cigarette packages 16 and 17, the wrappers 19 are folded so as to form bottom flaps 20, which can be secured in place by a suitable adhesive. `After the individual twin packagesv have been enclosed by the wrapper 19, the same are then enclosed by a paper container 10, as clearly shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive.

The tax or revenue stamp 21 is then placed over the individual cigarette packages 16 and 17, and secured thereto and to the paper container 10. Thus the stamp 21 acts as means for holding the individual packages in place, and hides the meeting side walls of the individual packages. Thus my improved package assumes the same appearance as the cigarette packages now in common use.

If desired, the outer top iiaps 20 of the individual cigarette packages can be provided with tearing tabs 22, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. These tabs lie on opposite sides of the revenue stamp 21, and when it is desired to open one of the individual packages, thetab 22 is grasped between the thumb and forenger of one hand of the user. The package is held in the other hand of the user with the thumb over the revenue stamp, and when a pull is exerted on the tab 22, the wrapper will be torn along the edge of the revenue stamp, the same acting as a shearing edge for said wrapper. This permits the convenient opening of one of the individual packages, and only ten cigarettes will be exposed to atmospheric conditions. The other ten cigarettes will be firmly held in their packed condition by their wrapper and against the action of the atmosphere. After the cigarettes have been used out of the package that has been opened, the other individual package is then opened. in the same manner as the first, which allows the cigarettes therein to be used.

The form of the tearing tabs 22 is a matter of choice, and, as shown in Figure 2, I have eliminated these tabs, and the extreme end of the outermost top naps may be left free to permit the gripping thereof by the user when the package is opened.

In some instances it may be advisable to interlock the individual packages of cigarettes in the paper container. This may be very easily accomplished by folding the outermost lower ilaps of the individual cigarettev packages in with the folding bottomilaps 15 of the paper container 10, as is clearly shown in Figure 5 of the drawing.

It is customary in ordinary cigarette packaging to pack the cigarettes in three longitudinal rows, the rst two rows containing seven cigaretes, and the other row containing six cigarettes.

This leaves a hollow space at one corner of thev cigarette package, which allows the distortion of the package at that point. Thusa neat and well-formed package is not provided. To eliminate this apearance, I pack the cigarettes in the individual packages in rows of three, and then place the odd cigarette at the inner end of this package at one side of the center row of cigarettes. The odd cigarette of the individual packages lies on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the complete package, and when the complete package is formed, the cigarettes will be compressed and the entire package will have well-formed corners. In other words, the individual packages are formed of a mating character to intert when the same are packed together. This method of packing the cigarettes can be well carried out in the usual packages o1' cigarettes of twenty.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that I have provided a novel cigarette package in which the cigarettes will be firmly held and protected against drying out.

If preferred by the manufacturers of the cigarettes, the complete package can be enclosed with a wrapper of Cellophane, as is now the general practice. l

Changes Vin details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention, but what I claim as new isz- 1. A-pocket cigarette package comprising an outer paper container having an open upper end, two individual sealed packages of ten cigarettes each arranged within the container and disposed on opposite sides of the transverse center of the container, each of the individual packages including a wrapper having sealing aps, a gummed strip disposed over the individual packages and connected with the side walls of the container, certain of the iiaps of the individual packages lying on opposite sides of the gummed strip.

2. A pocket cigarette package comprising an outer paper container having an open upper end, two individual sealed packages of ten cigarettes each arranged in the container and disposed on opposite sides of the transverse center of the container, each of the individual packages including a wrapper having sealing ilaps, a gummed strip disposed over the individual packages and connected with the side walls of the container, certain of the flaps of the individual packages lying on opposite sides of the gummed strip, and gearing tabs formed on the ends of the mentioned aps.

3. A cigarette package comprising an outer paper container having folded bottom flaps, a pair of individual cigarette packages arranged within said container, each of the individual packages including a wrapper having folded bottom iiaps interfolded with the bottom flaps of the outer container. HARVEY R. BETHKE. 

